21.02.05 
by Scott Kara
Just in case you were wondering, Slash is a guitar God. The Velvet Revolver guitarist - who 
used to be in Guns N' Roses - is posing in front of us, pursing his lips at the crowd, and playing 
the first of many guitar solos.
As the guy next to me says: "There are not many Saturday nights you can see Slash do that."
But tonight, Velvet Revolver - the super group made up of former members of the Gunners and 
Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland - are in town.
Slash's ridiculously big boots look better for snowboarding than lurching around stage and 
striking classic - verging on cheesy - guitar poses. But we love his gold guitar, his distinct guitar 
licks and the sweat streaming like a shower off his frizzy mop. And later tonight he even plays his 
double-headed guitar and wears his top hat.
Whether the police are expecting debauchery and mayhem of Guns N' Roses proportions or not, 
they are certainly out in force. They needn'! t have worried because tonight a mix of young Velvet 
Revolver converts mingle harmoniously with the older Gunners' and Stone Temple Pilots' fans, who 
have come to see if the lads still have it. They do.
Admittedly, a few of the Gunners' fans are distinguishable by their paunches, but hey, even Slash has a 
wee tummy these days. He is, after all, the only one in the band who still likes to sink a few cold beers.
The other four, drummer Matt Sorum, bass player Duff McKagan, guitarist Dave Kushener and singer 
Scott Weiland, are physically well cut. Yes, Weiland is emaciated but, surprisingly, he looks strong. That 
drug addiction thing really does good stuff for your figure.
It's hard to believe Weiland is clean now because he has to be on something to stage a performance like this.
When he's not putting the mic stand in naughty places, swearing at us and talking sexy, he's sweating, posturing 
and singing better than ever.
McKagan is solid and sh! owy, Sorum is a beefcake presence on the drums and special tribute must be paid to 
Kushener, who plays alongside Slash yet still makes an impression.
The bright spangled lights of the Velvet Revolver sign beam out and pulse to the sound of pure rock'n'roll.
A guy in front of us accidentally elbows his girlfriend in the temple while the crowd chant of Big Machine goes up 
and she's not impressed. She hits him, stomps off, and he follows while looking back over his shoulder to the stage.
Gunners' tracks such as Mr Brownstone and Used To Love Her are good to hear but it's the VR songs off the album 
Contraband that kick ass.
Whether it's the chaotic stomp of Sucker Train Blues, the beautiful refrains of Fall To Pieces or the anthemic encore 
Slither, Velvet Revolver came to play their songs, not songs by their old bands.